The Study Abroad Collection

This collection of paintings is based on my experience studying art in Italy during the summer of 2023 with my college. The trip was full of experiences ranging from surreal moments of joy to extreme points of discomfort.

The process behind these pieces was very experimental. Working alongside my painting professor at Meredith College who acted as my mentor, I developed a process that helped convey this sense of hazy memories. Using the aesthetic of watercolors as my inspiration, I played with acrylics and water on raw canvas to create loose and transparent washes of color. After stretching the pieces onto bars, I clear gessoed them and pulled out scenes from the color washes using oils. The oils work with the acrylics while also having a presence on their own by inherently being deeply saturated and glossy.

The overall aesthetic of these works feels connected to my experience. They are moody, fun, abstract, and vibrant. The lack of control found in the water blooms of the acrylics mimics the lack of control felt while traveling, while the rich pigments in the oils feel grounding and defined.